Do you ever get tired of walking them?
 

I have to admit, I've been in a slump with walking Thor for the past few weeks. I do love watching him run around a park because he's so unrestrainedly joyful, but... there are only so many parks in my area, and only so many different walks I can take him on.

I've realized I much prefer walking Thor if we are running an errand. Just walking for the sake of walking feels pointless, and I'm constantly checking the time.

Does anyone else here get the walking blues? How do you overcome them? I've been thinking about listening to music while we walk, but I'm a little concerned that I might miss things in the environment, like a dog two blocks away that Thor wants to go nuts over.

I guess that's part of it too, is I feel like Thor takes a lot of focus to walk properly. I'm always on the lookout for things that might set him off so I can distract him. I think part of me is longing for a dog that will just, you know, walk next to me without constant supervision.

I feel really guilty for not getting Thor enough stimulation. How do I break out of this funk?

Also, I'm not sure if this is part of it or not, but Thor and I used to play-tussle over toys a lot. I am not sure what happened, but a month or two ago, he stopped wanting to do that. He lets me chase him around a bit (he's never enjoyed chasing me, maybe because I'm so slow), but even then, he seems to get kind of scared, like he can't tell that I'm playing. I think I remember maybe him getting hurt/startled a few months ago when we were playing. I'm not sure, but I feel like I remember accidentally hitting him in the face with a toy or something. Obviously, I didn't think too much of it at the time, because it's very hazy. Anyway, his discomfort has limited our inside fun time. I try to use very non-threatening body language, but it doesn't seem to help.

We would both growl at each other, and his growling is hilarious because it's so high pitched. I know this is a weird thing to complain about, but I can't remember the last time he growled at me.

I feel you. I only have the treadmill option during the week. I don't look forward to Kaji's scared face or the dang wall. We thoroughly enjoy our walks on the weekends. I usually walk him late when there are no people around ti scare Kaji.

Kaji is timid, right? How did you teach him to walk on the treadmill?

Yes he's very shy. We hop on when it's off, and I start it as slow as it will go. He'll sit there giving me a defiant look up until he's just about to fall off and he'll run to me. I slowly increase the speed, and while walking backwards I call him to me. I ask him if he wants to be picked up, which he does so that gets him going. He hasn't figured out that he can jump off the sides. :p

Haha....yes there are some days that I get very bored walking Lucky but then I think to myself....this is something that he really loves and he knows that it's an every morning routine!He wakes me up at around 7:30 and by 8:30 I have his walk completed and our breakfast started....lol
His walk is an around the block walk and only takes 20 mins but he loves it....it's a small sacrifice that sometimes I dread but he don't demand alot from me...and he has given me soooo much love since I had him it's the least I can do for him!!! My advice is, make your walks a little shorter and then the days when you're feeling tired, you know it's not going to be long before it's done and you're back home with a very happy Thor!! lol

Just try to remember how much it means to him to get outside and sniff around, enjoy the fresh air & sunshine, and the exercise that he needs. It isn't about you but his good health - now and in the future. Walking helps their organs to work better and it will also help stave off future arthritis. Did this lecture help?:D

Yes! I feel ya. For sure.

Well, for one thing, I have to DRIVE somewhere to go walk. I live on 3 acres with 90 acres of farm behind us. No sidewalks or neighborhoods, we're just on a main road. So I can't just walk out my door, so I drive and it's only about 3 minutes up the road, to a nice neighborhood with sidewalks and park in their golf course parking lot and then walk the neighborhood. So even though it's so close, sometimes I just wish I could walk out my front door, I cannot wait til I'm living in a neighborhood again.

But I always get bored. I know Jackson could keep going, and I surely SHOULD keep going for the exercise, but after about 35-45 minutes, I'm just ready to stop simply because of boredom. I've been considering bringing my iPod but I'm always so paranoid about having music in my ears while walking by myself because I feel like I won't hear something important, or someone will creep up behind me, LOL. I don't know.

I never tire of watching Jackson at the dog park though. I've often stayed for 2-3 hours just loving watching him RUN and be free and happy. :) Also my dads fenced in back yard, I love watching the dogs all run and play together.

Lol, I thought I was the only one who didn't LOVE walking my dogs. I have to drive to a nearby park (our neighbourhood is a bit too dangerous to walk around in or I'm just paranoid) where I can walk the dogs. The park is only five minutes away and it's huge, so I try to go every night after work. But by the time I get home (after an hour in traffic), I'm usually not keen to do anything else, much less drive somewhere.
I had to force myself to get into a routine, otherwise it was too much of a hassle. Now, we walk four days a week for half an hour after work and on weekends, we either go to the park for hours or we do something fun. If I can't walk them, I play fetch with them until their tongues drag on the floor :D

Well I am lucky in that we live on 40 acres, and we have a path around the woods for walking that we made, but the problem...I get so lazy. I work 8-5 and it takes me 40 minutes to get to work and 40 minutes to get home, so my point being that when I get up its dark, when I get home its dark..lol...No excuse, but it sure does not help. We do have an area in the back fenced in so she can run and play while I sit there..lol..Not good, being that I need to lose weight as well..Our day for big walking is Thursday, my daughter has dance class, I drop her off and we hit our local park, its huge (with ponds and such) and we walk until its time to pick up my daughter. So I have no help for you, I am in a funk too I guess, I wish some of you lived closer so we could motivate each other..lol..

Well, ya. I for sure get tired of walking both dogs. Walking two dogs is not as relaxing as walking one.

I am paying a dog walker on Monday's and Friday's so I can have those days off! I'd have one every day if I could afford it.

We just moved to a new area; so walking has been a bit more fun. Exploring the new trails and parks . . . so that perked up our walking a bit. But now it's dark early and I can't get to one of the really fun parks after work; just around the ole neighborhood.
Yawn.

I try to think of it as stress relief for me; getting some fresh air after being in an office all day . . . then I remember the other benefits like ~ Ringo won't bark all night long; they will both be tired . . .

I can do an hour and then I've had enough. Ringo could go on and on.

I just got a bike and am going to get a bike basket for Lucy to shake things up a bit . . . but then she is not getting exercise and Ringo can't go so . . . doesn't solve the problem.

Luckily I don't have to walk too far. About 2 blocks, and I'm there. But I do wish we had an actual "dog park" where Ollie could run around with other dogs. he loves for me to throw a ball or frisby... but he just can't get the concept of bringing it back... So I end up playing fetch myself!!! I get a little bored but he loves to run around in such a big open area.

I hear ya, by the time i get off work,cook dinner, feed dh and pnut, clean up the mess, do laundry...etc.etc i am in no mood to walk! But i look at pnut and he gives me that look like mom please take me out.. or i will have dh take him. One time i was playing with pnut and i threw his toy and i hit him in the head! He wouldnt touch that toy for a month!! I felt so bad lol, i was glad he wasnt mad at me.

Like someone said on here, just enjoy the fresh air and the time with thor when you go walking. Pnut loves to go sit in the grass.. but hawks always come and ruin our fun!

I drive to the park that is 3 min drive from my house for walks. The scenery is better and no loose dogs. I also have my walkman on

It's good to know I'm not the only one, ha ha. I thought it was my shameful secret.

I'll happily walk an hour if we are going somewhere, even if it's not really necessary. I used to order takeout from somewhere really far away and then walk there even though they delivered. Maybe I find a place for breakfast I want to go to every day. I used to go to my local starbucks, but they asked me to stop bringing my dog in.

I'd definitely walk a long way for a fancy coffee... maybe I need to find an inconvenient, dog friendly Starbucks.

And music! I have to try music. I sort of thought about audio books, but I think that I wouldn't be able to pay attention to Thor at all. Maybe worth a shot though.

I'm lucky enough that I could afford a daily dog walker, and Thor does go to daycare for socialization, but I feel like walking is how I show my love for him. I got him because I didn't think his owner took good care of him, and I wanted him to get the attention and stimulation he deserves. Hm, maybe I need to keep that in mind.

Or I could get a dog walker for weeks where I'm really busy for work... oops, I think I just overloaded on ideas. Ah, so confused! Okay, far away coffee and music to start with.